Tale of the Last Demon Slayer

Chapter 19

THIRD PERSON’S POV

Hatori is still hanging upside-down for more than fifteen minutes now. He is hanging at the cliff and not even move a single finger. He keep on staring at the full moon and tried to pull himself together. He tried to swing his body to see if he can reach the hanging vines in his right side. He swing his body harder to the right so he can grab on it. Ehen he was able to hold the vines he then hold on to it tightly while he is trying to untie his foot on the rope. He manage to climb at the cliff again but he is chasing his breath. He really thought that it’ll the end for him at that moment but thankfully he survived again. While on the verge of danger and possible death a while ago he was able to think of his reason why he is still doing this. Why he is trying so hard to live and to learn on how to become a demon slayer, all of it came to his mind while he is clinging to the smallest hope he had earlier.

His reason is Nikumi. His reason in not vengeance but his sister. He already lost his family and what he wanted was to find the only family he has. He knew that his sister is still alive and waiting for somewhere. He don’t want to give her sister some false hope because he knew that his sister is giving him hope and courage in return. He can feel it and he is certain.

“Remember this, Hatori. If you can’t overcome your own fear you will not become fearless”

Ushio’s vice echoed in his ears. Hatori then think of it over again as he is standing before the cliff. He needs to decide, e needs to think and he needs a certain reason to climb up back to the top of the mountain and ask for Ushio’s teachings. His fear. His fear of death, he fears to be all by himself. He is afraid of demons but most of all he is afraid on the other possibility that his sister is dead. He is afraid of random things that might come after him every single day but he doesn’t even know how to overcome his fear. How to runaway from it and ow to turn away from those.

He clenched his teeth and fist. His eyes are getting wet and anytime his tears might burst. He doesn’t know. He was just a normal boy living in the mountains with his family. He serves as the father as he is the eldest son. And all he knew was to help his mother and sell bags or rice to villagers.

“If you will not set aside your doubts you will never trust your self and if you will think of revenge, you will not succeed.”

He started to cry quietly. Things had been rough for him since the death of his father. He carry all the burden, he does all the work so he can hep his mother and take care of his siblings. He was forced to mature and be an adult at his age and look after his whole family. He should be enjoying his youth but then he wasn’t able to experience it.

“Hatori, why are you dong this? Is it because you want revenge for your family?”

The last question that Ushio asked him wakes him up. He knew that from the start. He is focused on having his revenge to the one who took his family way from him. He felt like that all of his sacrifices and hard work for them was thrown away and had gone into waste.

“Hatori-niisan.” Nikumi’s smile flashes in to his memory. He stopped thinking for a while an cried harder.

“Nikumi, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” He cried and bent down to his knees. “What have I been thinking? What ave I been doing? Of course I need to go to you. You are waiting, right? I’m sorry, Nikumi. I will be there soon but please wait for me, Okay?” He said like he was talking to his imaginary sister. He wiped hi tears and get on to his feet. “Alright, for you, Nikumi. I will surpass my fear and doubts. Just wait, okay?”

He started to climb up again using the rope. I is indeed connected to the tree so he took it as an advantage. It took him more than ten minutes to finally reach the top again. He is completely tire and his energy is drained, no doubts. But since he felt Nikumi’s presence even though it’s his imagination he was able to pull some strength to reach the top. He knew that he couldn’t make it but he tried his best as long as Nikumi is smiling at the back of his head.

His family might be dead now and will never come back but he kept on his mind that one of them is still alive and it is Nikumi. He is not alone and he will do anything just to be reunited with his only family.

He avoided touching any ropes or beads around the tree for he knew that there might still be traps and with just wrong moves he will go through the same situation again. He looked at the dagger above him and he started thinking on how to get it without climbing the tree since he pretty sure that he can’t jump and remove it there. The rope that he used to climb back was not connected to any traps so he was thinking that it might have any purpose other than that. He saw a smaller tree that the one in front of him but the top of the tree is tall enough to be on the same level as the dagger. He had an idea but he is not sure if the method will be considered by Ushio. He tied the other edge of the rope to his waist and he then decided to climb the other tree. Like the others, the bark is slippery maybe because of the mist in the surrounding and the ambiance is really cold since it midnight now and the location is the highest part of the mountain. Every time he put his arms and feet on the bark of the tree he slips and fell on the muddy ground. He tried for a couple of times but he can’t do it. He can’t reach one meter high to proceed. He did the same thing for more than hours and still he can’t.

He grab a bunch of stones on his hand and throw it away in random direction because of his annoyance. It’s certainly a blessing in disguise because after that he head a sound of metals. He looked at the direction of the tree where he hid earlier to avoid the traps around it. He saw the knives that are pinned it the tree so he immediately think of some good idea to use it. He grab two knives and go back to the tree he wanted to climb because the surface is not as hard as the huge tree. He tried to stab it and until the huge one the knife was able to pin on it deeper. He tried to climb using both his hands only and the knives for each. He was able to climb and when he reached the top he tied the other edge t it and he cross the rope with his arms only.

He was relieved when he was able to hold on to the dagger that was pinned on it but before he could even jump the rope snapped and he fell down on the ground. Hatori groaned and he felt like his bones was broken because of the strong impact. He coughed some blood and his eyes starts to blur. He might lose consciousness anytime but his determination is bigger than anything else right now. He tried to feel his head and when he tries to stand he will fall on his knees in less than two seconds. He continued to cough blood and the pain on his back is getting painful even more. He then tried to craw even though hi is losing his senses and his sight is getting blurry.

“Nikumi, wait for me.” He whispered again and again.

He reached the bottom of the tree but he can’t stand up. With everything he got, he managed to curve his name on the tree but his name was in bottom of everyone’s name. After that, Hatori had lost his consciousness.